Isaac Zamora’s 2008 Skagit County Killing Spree
Overview
On September 2, 2008, 28-year-old Isaac L. Zamora launched a deadly spree in and around Alger, Skagit County, Washington, killing six people (including a sheriff’s deputy) and wounding four others over roughly two hours before surrendering. The violence began after a call to law enforcement about Zamora trespassing and stealing firearms from a nearby residence. The rampage spanned neighborhood homes, local roads, and southbound Interstate 5, ending at the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office in Mount Vernon.
Lead-up and Weapons
According to court records and contemporaneous reporting, Zamora broke into a house near his family’s property in Alger (address listed in court documents as 19408 “Bridal” Place), stealing a lever-action Winchester rifle, a handgun, and ammunition shortly before the killings. His mother called deputies about his trespassing; Deputy Anne Jackson responded.
Timeline of the Spree (September 2, 2008)
~2:15–3:10 p.m., Alger: Deputy Anne Jackson arrived after the trespass/theft call. She was shot and killed near Zamora’s family property. A neighbor, Chester Rose, who had reported Zamora’s behavior, was also found shot dead in the immediate area.
~3:45–4:10 p.m., Alger area: Two carpenters working at a job site on Silver Creek Drive (court records list 19522 Silver Creek Dr.)—David Radcliffe and Gregory “Greg” Gillum—were murdered. Investigators later noted both had been shot, and a power saw at the scene showed signs of post-attack injury. Zamora stole a pickup truck registered to Radcliffe.
~4:00 p.m., Binschus residence (Alger): Zamora rammed a pickup into the Binschus family’s garage, shot homeowner Fred Binschus as he fled, and then fatally shot Julie Binschus moments after she arrived home in her Toyota pickup.
~4:10–4:25 p.m., Interstate 5 southbound: During a high-speed pursuit, Zamora fired from the stolen truck. A Washington State Patrol trooper, Troy Giddings, was grazed in the forearm but self-transported to a hospital. On the freeway, a driver, Leroy B. Lange, was shot and killed in his SUV as traffic streamed south. A motorcyclist at a Shell station in Alger, Ben Mercado, was also wounded earlier by gunfire to the arm.
~4:30 p.m., Mount Vernon: Zamora pulled into the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office parking lot and surrendered with the rifle and ammunition still in the vehicle.
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